Have you ever noticed how much energy we put into remaining in our comfort zones? It is relatively easy to fall into a seductive slumber of doing just enough to maintain our status quo; be that keeping up with our house chores, sustaining “dead end” relationships, working at an unsatisfying job and/or reaching a plateau in your self care routine. It can be inspiring and at the same time daunting to consider that research again and again implores and encourages us to mix it up, raise the bar and stretch your self more and more to keep your fitness and self care needs and desires realized!

In much the same way changing perspective, switching seats at church or taking a different way to work brings freshness to that experience, exploring new frontiers within our self care and fitness routines can offer a similar boost to our bodies and spirits. Research tells us that one of the primary reasons why we stop or give up on our regular fitness routines is boredom or because we feel we are not getting the results that we desire, which can lead to frustration and the same outcome. We stop exercising and get “lax” with our commitments to eating well and honoring the body temple. I imagine that you can identify with me when I share with you that there are things that I am better or more accomplished with today than I was years ago. We are spiritually wired and gifted to align with the principle and practice of “IGG”-”Increasing greater good” and its available application in all aspects of our lives.

To utilize and leverage this cycle of increasing greater good you need to first take the time to make an honest assessment of where you are in terms of the “state of your life” and its relationship to what you desire for yourself and your present experience. What are you “getting from” and “giving to” life. Some questions that may help you with getting an honest assessment could be “is my energy level where I would like it to be?” Does my body reflect the kind of vitality and strength that I desire? Do my daily wellness choices represent integrity and alignment with my goals? Once you gather the information necessary to give you a good and thorough assessment of your present state of being you can then move on to checking in our your level of commitment to change and grow what you surmised from your assessment.

I love leveraging and empowering my level of commitment by fast forwarding to the place of realizing the goal in mind. That is, see it as done, feel the experience of your accomplishment and thejoy of your success. From this place it’s all about listening and looking for the feedback and all its many forms of showing up as you move forward on your journey. Are you getting the results that you intended and visioned for yourself? What are the challenges to getting the results that you are looking for? What can you do to make the necessary adjustments to move through and beyond those challenges? Now you can channel the feedback into moving forward again with clarity and ever growing commitment.

One of the things that can prevent us from reaching our goals is spending too much time in that place of where we were and where we think we should be. Sometimes we talk down to ourselves about how far we still have to go. Rather than deliberate in a self- manufactured purgatory, aspire to see the little wins along the way that have gotten you to where you are. These “little wins” are all a necessary part of the “big win.” Actively celebrate each step towards your goal. Treat yourself to a new fitness class; indulge in a spa body treatment; check out that new gourmet healthy restaurant; or go to bed real early after an aromatherapy bath…yummm!

It can be challenging to stay in the moment. With any practice of self care, our ego “likes” to compare and to judge -to make sure we know that we are not “there yet”. We can let go of our ego and take refuge in knowing that the goodness and joy come in the daily doing. A wonderfully magical part of growing your life, being mindful of the continuous improvement cycle is that it allows for us to be in constant communion with a powerful force and tenet for happiness and fulfillment in life; to daily stretch and grow, to actively pursue identifying challenges and overcoming them and acknowledge yourself and your success in doing so!

Dr. James Rouse, ND

Dr. James Rouse is a naturopathic physician with extensive credentials in the wellness field including post-doctorate work in acupuncture, Chinese medicine and transpersonal psychology.